Red, white and blue.

Now, I've no particular opinion on the royal family- not a hater, nor a lover! It's part of our history, so who am I to argue with such long-standing traditions! And anyway, they have given the country the chance for a right royal knees up.
Unfortunately I had to go to work today (thats right, no bank holiday closure for us), which is a shame because I quite fancied a bit of a knees up myself! So instead, I gave a nod to the wedding with my outfit's colour scheme and detailing, and off I trotted to work at 6.30am this morning...accompanied on the tube by early-rising revellers with flags and picnics (I was quite jealous)!

.....don't worry, we snuck off on our break to see Kate arriving at the church, and coincided our lunch break with 'the kiss'!

 

Some details from my day...

My 1953 coronation commemorative flag: £5 from a carboot. Pimms in my 1973 silver jubilee commemorative glass: a gift from my step-mum. The pattern of my blue floral dress. My red cardigan. My 1953 coronation commemorative brooch: gift from my aunt. Red and white flowers in my hair.

And I say I'm not into the royals, with my memorabilia, eh? It seems I just can't help myself....the imagery on vintage royal memorabilia is just wonderful, don't you think? 

I do hope you all had a wonderful day of festivities/fun/time off work!

Pip pip xx

Perfect new shoes and summer sun!

Well hasn't this weather been wonderful?
Lately I'm struggling to find the right clothes for this summery weather- lately, a lot of my clothes seem to be darker colours, and all my nice skirts and tops all seem to be patterned and therefore not a good match for each other! Oh bother!
I opted for my recently acquired Liberty floral skirt and my plainest (non-knitted) top!

Alexandra Palace picnicking!

Today me and Mr Mike ventured to Ally Pally for a picnic in the sunshine. Twas rather lovely and gave me an opportunity to air my new favourite sandals!

White cotton peasant top: carboot.

Liberty circle skirt: £5, fleamarket.

Bamboo bag: £8, collectors fair.

50's catseye sunglasses: vintage fair.

Sandals: £1, carboot.

Theres something about summer that just makes me want to carry wicker bags and the like, and when I laid eyes on this bamboo bag I just had to have it! It was £10 but I bartered it down to £8. It was worth the moneys because I can just tell I'll get a lot of use out of it....plus it'll fit into my locker at work! Perfect!
And now to the sandals, which I am absolutely IN LOVE with. I have been lusting after similar pairs of Rocket Originals cut-out sandals for some time now but have just never been able to bring myself to spend the money on them, for fear my feet would dislike them (my feet are awfully fussy about what I put on them, unfortunately), so when I saw these fabulous vintage 40's style sandals in a cardboard box at a carboot sale on sunday, I almost jumped for joy! A pound you say sir? I'll take them!

They are branded 'Joyfit' by Stead & Simpson. 

I'm not sure of the date of these though, as I just can't find anything useful on the internet! 

I don't normally get my monkey-toes out for love nor money, but for these beauties I'll make an exception!
Pip pip! xx

Happy easter!

"For Easter Morning"

an amusing pair of Ducks....

This fabulous image comes from the April 1957 issue of "Stitchcraft" magazine alongside instructions on how to make this father and son duck duo, and I thought I'd share it with you all!

Happy easter darlings! 

xx

I love Norfolk.

Thats right, I do.

My family have lived in and around Norwich since I was 5, and since I left in 2007 to live in London, I have totally rediscovered it's beauty. I suppose thats always the way though, isn't it? I went to live in London thinking I'd never want to leave, and it's actually made me realise how much I want to one day move to the Norfolk countryside and live in a perfect little cottage. 

It's so nice to be able to come home when I can get time off work and relax and adventure with my family!

Today we went to the beach to see Happisburgh, a village thats falling into the sea slowly, and the cliffs are edging ever closer to the remaining houses.

Old bits of house/carpet/water pipes from houses that have been destroyed as the cliffs have crumbled into the sea! It's quite sad, really!

Glorious beach!

Me and my dad paddled, skimmed rocks and made a rescue attempt on some trapped driftwood, whilst my step mum read her book in the sun.

And this is me paddling in the great blue sea!

I love being home!

Pip pip xx

Home sweet home...

Well hello there lovely people!

I do hope you are all having a lovely easter weekend! I took the rare opportunity for a few days off to come home and have some lovely easter family and friend times.

Last night my dear friend Jo stayed over and this morning we woke up to this event going on in the garden...

This is apparently world war II, according to my dad who was very excited about his new garden soldiers!

We then set off for the Antiques and Collectors Fair at the Royal Norfolk Showground, where we had bacon sarnies, met some nice people, and bought plenty! I'm yet to get some photos as most of the purchases are out in the car at present.
But, I adopted a new piece of taxidermy from the fair, and am looking to name him. He is already like a child to me, so of course I need to name him as soon as possible!

Any ideas?

This is what I wore today, for visiting the fair and having an adventure.

TU dress: £1, carboot.

1940's bolero: £1.30 (+£2.50 p+p), ebay.

Hush Puppies sandals: 50p, carboot.

Macrame bag: £7.50, vintage/antiques shop.

And I'll leave you with a picture of me and my chum in front of her amazingly pink  house!

Pip pip! xx

Glorious carbooting in the sun!

Hello dear ladies!

Isn't the weather just wonderful? I do hope you have all had the opportunity to enjoy it. I have been at home staying with my family for the last week, and we have been making the most of the weather by blitzing the carboots and fleamarkets!

Here is my carbooty of the day:

 

'Leisure of London' green check skirt suit: fleamarket, £5.

Beautiful old orange umbrella with resin handle: carboot, £2.

 Peasant top: carboot, £3.

Suede 'Hush Puppies' sandals: carboot, 50p.

Deadstock sunglasses: carboot, 50p.

Bracelets: fleamarket, £1.

'Liberty' floral circle skirt: fleamarket, £5.

Anyway, I must dash! Off to take my sister to the cinema.

What have you ladies been doing in this sun?

Pip pip xx

A visit to soho for some vintage shopping!

Now, my usual haunts for clothes are predominantly charity shops and carboots and ebay...but I'm not that often one for shopping vintage shops. In London they cost a bomb for the things I usually like. And there is generally a whole lot of 80's and 90's stuff that I hav no interest in to sift through in hope of finding something I may really want anyway. 

But on payday last week, after work a group of us took a trip to a couple of the soho vintage shops. And I must say, I was rather sucessful.

First stop was Beyond Retro, where I actually managed to find two things I really wanted!

  Embroidered cotton peasant top, £18. Hand quilted, cropped peach satin jacket, £25.

 Now, this is certainly more than I had been intending to spend, but when it came to it, I just couldn't put either back. The white cotton peasant top has hand embroidered cross-stitch all around the neckline; I can just imagine all the time that went into this when it was made! And I have been searching for a nice peasant top for so long (though, now, with its bright green running through it, I'm not sure what I have that is suited to wear with it just yet). I'm guessing it's maybe a 50's item? But I'm not sure, it could be 60's?
And then the shrug, well what can I say. It has been hand quilted with running stitch and has sating frog fastenings. I just thought it would be beautiful with the right tea dress for summer evenings out. Again, I'm not sure the exact date of this. And is it even an outer jacket?...it looks like it could even be a bed jacket (though if so, I think it needs repurposing as an evening jacket as I can't bear to hide this away from the world!).  Any guesses?
I am head-over-heels with these items, so although I was spending a fair amount in one go, they are unique things that were worth the investment.

So we toddled off to another shop and I swore I wouldn't be spending ANY money in the next store. We went to a shop on Berwick street that I'd always walked past but never thought to go into. Turns out it has a bargain basement where I just couldn't say no to THIS:

Vintage polyester blouse, £5.

WVS brooch: ebay, 99p (£2.00 p&p).

I was doing my best not to look at the rails, when my friend pulled out this blouse, handed it to me, and told me I had to have it. She was right. For one, it fit me (it is very rare for blouses not to gape at the front, but with this one's neck shape and small button and loop fastening, it was ideal). Also, it is just such a gorgeous, and now quite rare 1940's looking shape, with a small waist and peplum bottom. IT's 100% polyester and I can't quite work out when this would have been made- EDIT: it is a 70's item, thanks Vintage Vixen for your incredible knowledge!

And yes, thet is an original Womens Voluntary Service brooch you spy on the blouse, another ridiculous ebay bargain!

Yes, I am beginning to realise that it appears like I never stop spending, but I generally am quite good, honest!

Pip pip xx

Jeepers creepers, I am a magpie!

Oh me, oh my.

Life has been ever so busy again, as per usual. But I'm taking this opportunity (before another nightshift) to update and upload. 

So last weekend, I had a really great photoshoot for my menswear collection to be in an online magazine. I have seen the pictures and ever so pleased with them. I will give you more info and share the pictures when the magazine launches!

Now I've recently been doing a lot of shopping on ebay, what with it being mothers day/birthdays etc coming up. The trouble I have with ebay is that it's so easy to shop...and spend! I can sit on my sofa and rifle through pages of treasures and junk, until you find that perfect something. And usually for a bargain price if you're lucky! It's also always enjoyable to recieve things in the post, so another positive.

...........BUT, it is so easy to spend! It's not like real money, it's just pressing buttons isn't it. Ha.

And, I can't bear it if I lose something I've been bidding on! It drives me insane.

Do you girls have the same strange relationship with ebay?

Here is a beauty that arrived this morning from ebay for myself (the rest have been rather wonderful presents for others):

Vintage 40's shrug: ebay, £1.30 (+£2.50 p&p)

A pretty big bargain eh? 

I just love the print and the texture of the fabric. 

It's a bit discoloured, and tatty but I can make the mends to it. Now I just need to find something plain enough to wear it with (I am constantly drawn to prints, so sometimes it can be hard to find things that match)!

What are your best ebay bargains?

Pip pip xx

A cat is for life, not just for dresses...but it makes a darn good print!

When on holiday in Spain, I saw this beauty of a print (practically) waving at me through the window of Mango and I was so drawn to it I had to try it on!

For some bizarre reason, the print reminds me of this:

 

Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen's poster for Le Chat Noir.

Is it just me?

Unfortunately (although I think my purse gave out a sigh of relief), when I tried it on I just wasn't convinced...the high neck combined with busy print really did nothing for my bust! And I felt that it was maybe a bit short for my liking; I like a skirt to reach a good couple of inches below my knees ideally!

But that aside, it is a lovely dress with a glorious print. So, I thought I would inform you vintage/vintage-inspired loving ladies of blogland of such a wonderous dress. Hopefully someone else can give it the love it deserves!

Pip pip! x

I'm well and truly back!

Hello lovelies....or should that be 'hola'?

Yes, I am back from my holiday. Well and truly back. And straight into a week of total bleurgh...work, sickness, and a nightshift! So apologies for having been back over a week without a post!

 

Ooooh, out the plane window, 'citin!

The holiday was lovely....a well deserved chance to relax and enjoy not being in the big smoke, after 8 years sans a holiday!

Staying with my grandparents, we mainly did a whole lot of not very much. But we did....

 ...Visit villages in the mountains.

(Here I am wearing my vintage 1950's catseye sunglasses and a beautiful 1950's floral cotton dress that I am borrowing indefinitely from my step mum. It makes me feel summery!)

 

...EAT. A lot.

(ps look at Mr Mike's fancy yacht shirt, isn't it darling?)

 

...Play pool (I lost EVERY game).

...And swim in a pool. Look proof ^

(Though admittedly, the outdoor pool was so cold that this is as far into it as I got. I nearly lost my tootsies to hypothermia! But me and the Mike stayed in a little luxury apartment complex for a few treat days where we spent hours in the indoor pool and jacuzzi....heaven!).

 

We went out for a couple of romantic 'posh' 3-course meals as well, which was nice.

(I ate a bit of swordfish, fancy that! I wore my Tara Starlet floral tea dress, teamed with my trusty clarks heels for said swordfish swallowing!)

 
I EVEN visited a charity shop with my Nan whilst I was out there. I just couldn't help myself! All in the name of research, eh? It's ok, I only came away with one thing: a small raspberry pink raffia clutch for a bargainous €1.

I have some lovely old family things that I was shown/given whilst I was out there too, but more on that later ladies!

Pip pip! x